Gardai conduct National Slow Down Day
An Garda Síochána are conducting a national speed enforcement operation 'Slow Down' oepration, supported by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and other stakeholders.
The operation will run for a 24 hour period, and started from 7am this morning, Friday, May 24, and will run until the morning of Saturday, May 25.
In the first three months of 2019, there has been a 46% increase in speeding detections compared to the same period in 2018.
As May 22, there have been 58 road fatalities, an increase of two on this date last year.
On the first quarter of this year there have been 36,014 speeding detections (+46% on same period in 2018), and in the October 2018 campaign, GoSafe checked the speed of 164,032 vehicles with 276 detected travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.
The 'Slow Down' operation will consist of high visibility speed enforcement in speed enforcement zones, which now number over 1,000, as well as the delivery of a road safety message through the use of national, local and social media.
The objective, An Garda Síochána says, is to reduce the number of speed related collisions, save lives and reduce injuries on our roads.
An Garda Síochána is advising drivers to be aware of the operation in place, adjust their speed to all the prevailing road, traffic, and weather conditions, and make the choice to abide by every speed limit to make the roads safer for all
In terms of road safety, 2018 was the lowest on record with 146 road deaths.
A recent RSA report on fatal collisions between 2008 and 2012 found that excessive speed was a contributory factor in almost one third of all fatal collisions during that time. The higher the speed, the greater the likelihood is of a collision happening and the more severe the outcome of that collision. As a general rule a 1% reduction in average speed will bring about a 4% reduction in fatal collisions.
“The vast majority of drivers drive safely within the speed limits, and it is most welcome, but there still remain those that do not. We will continue to focus on non-compliant drivers who, drive in excess of the speed limit and pose a risk to themselves and other road users,” says Chief Superintendent Paul Cleary, Roads Policing Bureau. “Each time a vehicle speeds excessively or inappropriately, it could result in a serious or fatal collision. Please check your speed and support Slow Down day, not only on the day, but every day.”
Ms. Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive, Road Safety Authority added: “it is so important to have days like today, to remind drivers that they need to slow down, not only for their own sake, but for the safety of their passengers and vulnerable road users. So please, don’t put yourself under pressure to speed, give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination by setting out earlier on your journey, and watch out for vulnerable road users.”